Bolter drive mechanism



Nov. 24, 1959 E, RV LL 2,914,176

' BOLTER DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1956' F/az He. 4

INVENTOR. Wu. 1.. //7M E. Non V51 1;

United States Patent This invention relates to bolters and sitters and.more particularly relates to apparatus forimparting gyratory movementsuch to bolters and sifters. v 7

Drive mechanism for oscillating bolters or sifters by moving them ingyratory patterns have taken several different forms in the .past. Mostof such bolter drive mechae nisms have had certain distinctdisadvantages. .One such disadvantage is that many such drive mechanismsdonot operate positively to produce the desired gyration. of the bolterwhen the drive mechanism is first started. The gyration may move inextremely large circles at first be fore operating speeds are attainedwhereupon the bolter will ultimately settle down to a predetermined anddesired size of gyration of movement. Another disadvantage of some drivemechanisms for bolters is that they are diflicult to start intogyrations from a rotary motion, that is, after the drive mechanism isstarted the bolter will not be positively causedto gyrate ata-predetermined speed each time the drive mechanism started. Anotherdistinct disadvantage of some types ofdrive mechanisms for gyratingbolters, is that control apparatus for varying the diameter of thecircle of gyration is somewhat diflicultto adjust so that the desireddiameter of the gyration circle may be obtained with a highdegree ofaccuracy and it has also been experienced that some such controlapparatus will go out of adjustment after the apparatus has initiallybeen set.

With these comments in mind it is to the elimination of these and otherdisadvantages that my invention is directed along with the inclusiontherein of other novel and desirable features.

An object of my invention is to provide'adrive mechanism of simple andinexpensive construction and operation for shaking a flexibly suspendedbolter or sifter body.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel rotarymechanism for shaking a flexibly suspended bolter body which will startthe bolter body to gyrate in small circles of gyration at low speeds andwill progressively enlarge the circles of gyration and therefore theshaking of the bolter body as the rotary speed increases.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new drive mechanismwhich is adapted to vigorously shake a flexibly suspended bolter bodyand which is readily and easily adjustable to change the diameter ofcircular gyrarotary bolter drive mechanism adapted to vigorously shake aflexibly suspended bolter body and constructed in such a manner that thebolter is shaken to the desired degree each'time the drive mechanism isoperated.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention 7 Patented Nov.24, 1959 "ice will more fully appear from the following description madein connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencecharacters refer to the same parts throughout'the several views andinwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bolter or sifter body having theinvention mounted thereon;

Pig. 2 is a detail elevation view of a portion of the mechanism shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation view of the same mechanism shown in Fig. 2wherein saidmechanism is rotated degrees so as to eifectivelyshow aright side elevation view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section view of a portion of the mechanismshown in Figs. 2 and 3 and taken one substantially horizontal plane asindicated at 4-4 of Fig. 3;

.Fig. 5 is a detail section view of a portion of the mechanism asindicated at 5--5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a weight to be carried in "themechanism shown in Figs. 2-4.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figures anddescribed herein. The bolter or sifter body which. is indicated ingeneral by numeral 10 is provided with means for flexibly suspending thebody and in the form shown such means include a plurality of flexibleslats or reeds 11 which are vertically disposed and secured to thebolter body by means of brackets 12. The lower ends of the reeds 11 maybe suitably secured to fixed mounting structure for supporting thebolter body. The bolter body is free to shift in horizontal directionsto a limited extent as is conventional in the mounting of many types ofbolters.

The bolter body '10 is provided with upper and lower mounting portionsor bridge trees 13 and 14 which have bearings 15 and 16 respectivelysecured therein. A rotarydrive shaft 17 is journalled in bearings 15 and16 for rotation about a vertical axis which extends substantiallycentrally through the bolter body. The rotary drive shaft 17 may beconnected to a suitable source of rotary driving power for rotating theshaft about its vertical axis.

The present invention includes means for vigorously shaking the bolterbody and for producing the shaking by moving the body in a substantiallycircular gyratory pattern. Such means include an elongated substantiallychannel-shaped carrier or weight bucket indicated in general by numeral18. The carrier 18 is disposed adjacent the rotary drive shaft 17 withthe open side 19. of the channel shape thereof facing the drive shaft17. The carrier 18 is provided with inwardly turned lips or flanges 20adjacent the opposite sides thereof and being spaced apart for receivingthe rotary drive shaft therebetween. The carrier .18 is provided with aplurality of weight-supporting shelves or plates 21 which arerespectively disposed adjacent the upper and lower ends of the carrierand midway of the length of the carrier. As best seen in Fig- 3, theinturned lips or flanges 20 are provided with a plurality of recesses 22therein.

Substantially U-shaped weights 23, as best seen in Fig. 6 are insertableinto the interior of carrier 18 to be removably mounted therein on theweight-supporting shelves or plates 21 in the manner indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 3.

Means are provided for movably mounting the carrier 18 upon the rotarydrive shaft 17 and for restricting circumferential movement of thecarrier or any portion thereof relative to the drive shaft 17. In theform shown, such mounting'rneans include a pair of upper and lowermountings indicated in general by numerals 24 and 25. The mountings 24and 25 are substantially identical to each otherand includemountingsleeves 26 and 27 which are keyed to the drive shaft 17 adjacentthe upper and lower ends thereof and are also secured to the drive shaftby set screws to restrict movement of the sleeves longitua dinally ofthe shaft. The mounting sleeves 26 and 27 have bearing sleeves 28 and 29respectively affixed thereto and disposed transverselythereof. A pair ofupper and lower link shafts 30 and 31 are respectively journalled in theupper and lower bearing sleeves 28 and 29 for rotation about parallelaxes extending transversely of the rotation axis of drive shaft 17. Thelink shafts 30 and 31 are provided with collars 32 and 33 which arerespectively secured thereto on opposite ends of the hear ing sleeves 28and 29 for preventing any longitudinal movement of the link shafts.Collars 32 and 33 are affixed to the corresponding link shafts as by setscrews.

The upper and lower mountings 24 and 25 include parallel links 34 and35. Each of the links 34 is rigidly secured or affixed to the oppositeends of link shaft 30 as by nuts 36 which are secured upon the ends ofshafts 30 and bear firmly against the links 34. The links 35 aresimilarly rigidly affixed to the opposite ends of link shaft 31 as bysecuring nuts 37. As best seen in Fig. 5, a set screw 38 may be providedin thelink 35 bearing against the link shaft 31 to restrict relativerotary move ment of the link shaft and the links. The link 34 may besimilarly non-rotatably affixed to the link shaft 30.

The outer ends of the links 34 and 35 are swingably secured to the upperand lower end portions respectively of the carrier 18. The carrier 18 isprovided at the upper and lower ends thereof with mounting studs 39 and40 upon which the outer ends of the links 34 and 35 may be mounted andsecured thereon by means of nuts 41 and 42.

Operation In operation, the rotary drive shaft 17 will be connected to asource of rotary power. As the speed of the source of powerprogressively increases, the rotary shaft 17 will progressively increasein rotary speed from its stop or standing position to rotary speeds.While the rotary shaft 17 is in a stationary condition and whilerotating at low speeds, the carrier 18 having weights therein will bedisposed close to the shaft 17 so that the combined centers of gravityand the weights therein are disposed in close proximity with the shaft17. The shaft 17 will rotate and the carrier 18 will remain closelyadjacent thereto. As the shaft 17 accelerates or progressively increasesin speed, centrifugal force against carrier 18 will cause the same togradually swing outwardly away from shaft 17 so as to dispose thecombined centers of gravity of carrier 18 and the weights thereinoutwardly away from the rotation axis of shaft 17. Because the links 34and 35 are rigidly afiixed to their respective link shafts 30 and 31,there will be a smooth and gradual uniform shifting of the carrier fromthe drive shaft. No portions of the carrier 18 are permitted to movecircumferentially with respect to the drive shaft 17. As a result ofcarrier 18 swinging outwardly from the drive shaft 17, the drive shaft17 and the bolter body will move in a substantially circular gyratorypattern about vertical axes spaced from the rotation axis of rotaryshaft 17. As the operating speeds to a stopped condition, there will besubstantially uniform decrease in the diameter of gyratory movement ofthe bolter body and erratic movement thereof during the stoppingoperation is kept at an absolute minimum. The rigid swinging connectionbetween the rotary drive shaft 17 and the carrier 18 contributes verysubstantially to the elfecting of the smooth and uniform increase anddecrease in gyratory movement of the bolter body as the drive shaft 17and carrier 18 are progressively accelerated and decelerated.

It has been found that different materials require different amounts ofshaking by. the bolter. In order to adjust the vigorousness oftheshaking operation performed by the'bolter, certain of the weights 23 maybe removed from the carrier 18 or added thereto so as to change theamount of weight carried by carrier 18 and swinging around the driveshaft 17. By changing the number of weights carried by the carrier 18,the diameter rotary speed of drive shaft 17 increases, the carrier 18 vwill swing outwardly to a greater distance from drive shaft 17 and thediameter of the circular gyratory movement of the bolter body willprogressively increase so as to increase the shaking of the bolter bodyand the contents thereof. Because the rotary drive shaft 17 is disposedat the exact center of the bolter body and because the carrier 18gradually moves outwardly from the drive shaft as the rotary speed isincreased, the gyratory movement of the bolter body will increase in aregular and smooth manner and there will be substantially no erraticmovement of the gyratoryor shaking movement of the bolter, body as theshaft 17 is brought up to operating of the substantially circulargyratory movement of the bolter body will be changed so as to change themagnitude of shaking oscillation of the bolter body.

The weights 23 will be inserted into the carrier through theslots 22 inthe inturned lips or flanges 20 thereof and will be stacked upon thesupporting shelves 21. It should be noted that the weights 23 aresubstantially U-shaped so as to permit the carrier 18 to swing intoclose proximity with the drive shaft and to substantially surround thesame when the drive shaft is stopped or moving at a slow speed.

It will be seen-that I have provided a new and improved bolter or sifterhaving drive mechanism for producing a substantially circular gyratorymovement of the bolter body and which mechanism is constructed so as toproduce smooth and uniform increases and decreases in thegyratory'movement of the bolter body as the rotary speed of the driveshaft is accelerated and decelerated and which mechanism is constructedso that the diameter of the substantially circular gyratory movement maybe readily and easily adjusted by adding or removing weights to thecarrier and that after the adjustment has initially been made based uponthe requirements of the material handled by the bolter, the mechanismwill not go out of adjustment due to the shaking action produced.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention which consists of the matterdescribed herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What I claimed is:

1. A bolter comprising a flexibly suspended bolter body having upper andlower shaft mounting portions, an upright rotary drive shaft journaledin said portions for rotation about an upright axis, said drive shaftbeing connectable with a source of rotary driving power, an uprightweight carrier formed of relatively thin sheet material, said-weightcarrier being substantially U-shaped and including a pair of inwardlyturned flanges at opposite sides thereof, said flanges being spacedapart for receiving the rotary drive shaft therebetween, said weightcarrier being normally disposed in substantially surroundingrelationship to said drive shaft when the apparatus is at rest, a firstbearing sleeve and a second bearing sleeve connected to said drive shaftat spaced points therealong, each of said bearing sleeves extendingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, a first linkshaft rotatably journaled in said first bearing sleeve, :1 second linkshaft rotatably journaled in said second bearing sleeve, meanspreventing longitudinal movement of said link shafts relative to theassociated bearing sleeves, a first pair of links having one end thereofrigidly secured to the opposite ends of said first link shaft, and asecond pair of links having one end thereof rigidly secured to theopposite ends ofsaid second link shaft, the opposite ends of said firstpair of links being pivotally connected to the upper end portion of saidweight carrier, the opposite ends of said second pair of links beingpivotally connected to the lower end portion of said weight carrier,whereby the weight carrier is adapted to pivot outwardly away from saiddrive shaft about the axes of said first and second link shafts andrelative circumferential movement, between said drive shaft and saidweight carrier is prevented, shelf means supported within said U-shapedWeight carrier for mounting weights in the weight carrier, at least onepair of recesses formed in said flanges for inserting Weights to saidWeight carrier, and a plurality of flat substantially U-shaped weightssupported Within said weight carrier, said Weights being substantiallysymmetrical and including a pair of leg portions, said weights beingmounted within the weight carrier such that when the apparatus is atrest, said leg portions lie adjacent diametrically opposite portions ofthe drive shaft such that the weight members are in partiallysurrounding relationship to the drive shaft and the center of gravity ofthe drive shaft and bolter at low rotary speeds of the rotation of saiddrive shaft whereby at low speeds of totation of the drive shaft, thecentrifugal force generated by the weights is quite small therebyrestricting gyration References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 883,526 Combs Mar. 31, 1908 946,716 Brantingham Jan. 18,1910 1,095,797 Brantingham May 5, 1914 1,104,870 Brantingham July 28,1914 1,142,146 Combs June 8, 1915 2,516,207 Hartwig July 25, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF VJCORRECTION Patent No. 2,914,176.

William E. NOI'Vell.

November 24, 1959 It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionand that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, speeds of the the axis of Signed and sealed this 17th day of(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Oificer weights is disp'o drive shaftand bolterat low rotary sed. closel; adjacent "bolster" read bolter May 1960ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents

